Written by Sam Lowry
09:12 February 11, 2024, updated 09:27 February 11, 2024
- The thieves stole bags of liquor, bottles of rosé, and even a bystander’s cell phone.
A pair of masked shoplifters burst into a Tesco in London, brazenly grabbed a bottle of booze, then made off with the loot and even snatched a bystander’s mobile phone – while security guards and staff looked on. .
The incident took place on England Lane in Belsize Park, an upscale area in northwest London, as Britain’s shoplifting epidemic shows no signs of slowing down.
The shocking moment was captured on film by a bystander at the store, showing the two robbers stuffing bottles of liquor into large bags in the store’s refrigerator section.
One person is wearing a blue jacket over an orange hoodie, a black tracksuit, and carrying a gray rucksack.
The other person is dressed in all black and wears a red hood.
Immediately one of the thieves jumped out with a Sports Direct bag containing booze, while the other apparently stepped up his theft by grabbing a four-pack and a bottle of rosé at the last moment.
Security guards in high-visibility jackets and Tesco employees looked on throughout the incident and did not intervene even as loud alarms blared in the background.
The robbery took place in front of stunned customers, and a witness who filmed the robbery appeared to have one of the shoplifters snatch his phone from his hand.
Leafy Belsize Park is one of the capital’s most affluent areas and is home to many celebrities including Noel Gallagher, Helena Bonham Carter, Martin Freeman and Chris Martin.
Retail industry bosses say a recent surge in shoplifting is costing stores £1bn a year.
From last year to March, police recorded 339,206 incidents of shoplifting, but the British Retail Consortium (BRC) estimates the real figure is 8 million, costing stores nearly £1 billion a year. There is.
The BRC said the criminal network traveled across the UK, carrying out “theft on command” in a manner similar to county gangs.
Popular products targeted include expensive electronics, alcohol, and tobacco.
The crime has now spread to everyday items, from meat, cheese and laundry liquid to diapers and baby formula.
Thanks to rule changes made in 2014, people charged with theft up to £200 now do not have to appear in court.
But at Labor’s conference in October, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper promised to remove this exemption in a bid to crack down on shoplifting.
The BRC endorsed the proposal shortly after.
It is not yet clear whether any arrests have been made.
MailOnline has contacted the Metropolitan Police and Tesco for comment.